Lock-out device for telephones.



PATENTED JUNE 4, 1907. E.. C. M. HASTINGS 6L T. MATHENY.

LOCK-OUT DEVICE FOR TELEPHONES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY '1. 1906.

1. m .Ew H .E R H W m M 7. n A w in l m m H l M @im mm M We y M R. B Si@ S Im I/I/JTNESSES.-

No. 856,146. PATENTED JUNE 4, 1907. R. C. M. HASTINGS & T. MATHENY. LOCK-OUT DEVICE FOR TELEPHONES.

AP'PLIOATION FILED MAY 7. 1906.

4 SHEETS-SBEET 2.

5 y /y y l l V v' ATTORNEYS No. 856,146. PATENTED JUNE 4, 1907. R. C. M. HASTINGS & T. MATHENY.

LOCK-OUT DEVICE FOR TELEPHDNBS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 7, 1906.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

- am TMm-Zz@ Wf'fyvgssgs j/ZZ'ZMEW INVENTUM` i yp- ATTORNEYS 116.856.146. PATBNTBD JUNE 4, 1907. 11. c. M. HAsTINGs an T. MATHBNY.

LOCK-OUT lDEVICE EUR TELEPHONES.

APPLIoA'rIoH FILED nu 7. 1906.

4 SHEETS-BHEET 4.

l l I A TTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE.

RUBEN C. M. HASTIN GS AND THURSTON MATHEN Y, OF ATHENS, OHlO.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented J' une 4, 1907.

`Application filed May '7, 1906. Serial No. 315,712.

To all whom it may con/Germ' Be it known that we, RUBEN C. M. HAST- INGs and THURsroN MATHENY, citizens of the United States, residing at Athens, in the county of Athens and State of Ohio, have invented a new anduseful Lock-Out Device for Telephones, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to telephone systems, and has for one of its objects to provide means of simplev construction whereby aselective signal may be sent along a party line for the purpose of sounding a ca l be l or other calling apparatus ofy the selected subscriber only, the remaining bells being prevented from operating. l A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of this kind in which a mechanism of simple construction is employed for engaging and locking the bell cla per rods at non-selected stations, and in which all of the clapper rods are initially locked, only one of such rods being movable to release position at one time. l

A still further obj ect of the inventlon is to provide a selective system in which all but the calling and the called subscribers may be locked out, thus rendering it impossible for any other station to overhear the conversation.

-A still further ob'ect of the invention is to provide a receiver ook lock of simple construction Which may be brought to locking position by the calling subscriber at will in order to lock out and prevent movement of the receiver hooks at` all except the connected stations.

`With these and other objects in view, as will more fully hereinafter appear, the invention consists 1n certain nove eatures of construction and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, 1t being understood that various changes in the form, proportions, size and minor details'of the structure may be made Without de arting from the spirit or sacrificing any o the advanta es of the invention. g

the accompanying drawin s:-Figure 1 is a front elevation of a switch ox of a telephone, the door being shown in open position, and illustrating the arrangement of the claper locking mechanism and circuit controliing devices. -Fi 2 is a perspective view of the switch box s owing the mechanism on the exterior of the box. Fig. .3 is a vertical section on the line 3-'3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail elevation of the clapper rod lock and its controlling devices, showing the clapper rod locked from movement. Fig. 5 is a similar view, showing the clapper rod released. Fig. 6 is a sectional plan view on the line 6 6 of Fig. 1, showing the connection between the external operating mechanism and the inner contacts. Figs. 7 and 8 are elevations of the switch hook lock, Fig. 7 showing the receiver hook released, and Fig. 8 illustrating it in locked position. Fig. 9 is a diagram .showing the selecting and lock out circuit.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding arts throughout the several gures of the rawiin carrying out the invention, each of the stations of a party line is provided with a switch box A arranged to contain a magneto generator B of the usual construction, and extending into the boxis a receiver hook C which operates in the usual manner to close the talking circuit when the` receiver is removed from the hook. The construction of this portion of the mechanism,'the local vvviring of the talking and calling circuits, and the main line circuits, form no part of the present invention and may be of the usual type, the system being adapted for use in connection With the ordinary bridging bell, series or other party line circuits.

On the door D of' each switch box is Secured a polarized call bell E of ordinary construction, and to the. armature of this bell is secured a clapper rod F, also ofthe usual face of the door, or to a suitable base plate 18 carried by said door. This shaft carries a notched disk 19 and a ratchet wheel 20,

-one'having notches, and the other teeth'of a number equal to the graduations of the The ratchet wheel 2() is engaged by a tooth 21 of a pawl bar 22 that is hung from one end IOO IIO

of an armature lever 23 pivoted on a suitable stud 24, a spring 25 being employed to retainthe pawl bar in contact with the ratchet wheel. The lever 23 carries an armature 26 that is disposed within the field of force of a pair of electro-magnets 27 that are connected in the selecting circuit, and each time the latter is energized the armature 26 will be attracted and the ratchet wheel will be rotated to the extent of a single tooth, advancing the pointer one graduation on the dial.

The disks 19, of which there is one at each station, are all of precisely the same construction, each being provided with recesses 29, any one of which may receive the shank of a cam 30, the cams being interchangeable, and beingrlisposed at different points in the respective disks, so that `as all of the disks throughout the system simultaneously receive a step by step movement, the different cams will be successively brought to operative position, the cam of station number 1v iirst moving to operative position, and then on the second movement, the cam of station number 2, and so on throughout the whole number of connected stations. At a point below the clapper rod is a pivotally mounted locking lever 32, having at one end a notched recess 33 for the reception of the clapper rod, and when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 4, which is the normal position throughout the system, all of said clapper rods will be locked, and held from vibratory movement to an extent sufficient to sound the bells. When the lever moves to the release position shown in Fig. 5, a sin le clapper rod is released, and the bell at t at station will be sounded when the lsignaling cirrent isfsent over the line. \At a point adjacent to the disk 19 isa cam actuated lever 34, the free end of which rests by gravity on the periphery of the disk. This lever is connected at a point intermediate its 'ends to a link 35 that is hun from the lever 32. The lever 34 is dispose in the path of movement of the cam block 30, and as the latter rotates said lever 34 will be raised and the notched end of lever 32 will be depressed to release the clapper rod, this operation occurring first at station No. 1, then at station No. 2, and so on as the disks are simultaneously rotated, the operator holdingthe apparatus at clapper rod releasing position at the station which he desires to call, and then sending the calling current over the line byoperating his magneto generator.

Each yof the doorsl is. further provided witha bearing for a short shaft or arbor 40 that carries at its outer end a handled crank 41 which is grasped by the operator, and

ulled down until it strikes the in 43, (see Fig. 2), which forms a stop for imiting the movement ofthe crank in`- one direction. To the inner 'end of the shaft 4() is secured'a rocker arm 45 to which is connected a spring 46 tending to hold the arm in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1. This arm is provided with a recess intermediate its ends, and into said recess extends one arm of a contact lever 48 that is pivted on a stud 49, and is arranged to alternately engage two contacts 50 .and 51, thel spring 46 normally holding the parts in such position'that the contact 48 will be in engagement with the contact 50. This will maintain the selecting and lock out circuit closed, but disconnected from the batteries or other source of energy. When the crank 41 is moved to its lowest position, the arm 45 moves to the dotted line position shown-in Fig. 1, and the contact 48 is then thrust into enga ement with the contact 51', closing the circuit at the calling station with the local battery of said calling station, and thus ener izing the entire line.

At theeft hand side of the switch box is arranged a ivoted do 50v having a bifurcated end w `ch strad les the receiver hook.

cated at 51 and is arranged to be engaged-by a locking bar 52 which carries an armature 53 disposed in the iield of force of a pair of lockout electro-magnets 54, and when these magnets are energized,- .the armature will be attracted and the locking bar will be raised to the position shown in Fig.A A8 preventing the movement of the dog 50 to .an extent sufficient to allow the receiver hook to rise and close .the talkingv circuits. These parts are preferably arranged within a suitable rotective casing 55 at one side .of the switch box, or they may be arranged inside. the switch box proper, if desired.

Fig. 9 illustrates the selecting and lockout circuit only, all of the talking and signaling wires having been purposely omitted in order to avoid confusio t It has been found desirable to employ means for automatically locking the arm 45 in the position to which it is moved at the e l Q l l c completion of a signaling operation in order that the line may e kept energized, land the receiver hooks of the subscribers at all stations held in locked position with the exception. of the calling and called station. *For this purpose an additional lever 56 is pivoted on a stud 57 carried by the door of the .switch box, and is provided with a depending hook 58 thatisl arranged to extend under the receiver hook, so that when the latter is held depressed bythe wei ht of the receiver, the arm 56 will be held/gown out of the path of movement. ofa lug or shoulder 59 that is carried at the lower end-of the arm 45, and the latter is free to play between the dotted and full line ositions of Fi 1*. If the receiver is remove from the hoo the lever 56 is' pulled upward by its spring 56', and the end of the lever is then placedin the path of movement of the lug or shoulder 59, so that the arm .is held in the dotted line position with the con- .The rear face of this dog is iiattened, as indir IIO taets 48 and 51 in engagementwith each other, thus maintaining the circuit energized.

The selecting and lock out wire 6l) may extend from ground at one end of the system through the lock out electro-magnet 54 at station number 1, then through the selecting magnets 27 at the Sallie station, thence by u'ire 61 to the contact arm 48, thence contact 50, wire 62, and again by wire to station 2, where it is connected in similar manner, and thence on for as many stations as there are in the line, passing finally to ground at the last station, or, if necessary, a metallic return wire may be employed instead of the ground.

At. a suitable point in the system the wire 6() is connected in series with an electro-magnet of low resistance, and after leaving this electro-magnet the circuit may be traced throughthe bell crank lever 66, contact 67, and Wire 68 to the wire 60.- The bell crank lever 66 has at one end a pin 69 that extends through a slot in a pivoted lever 70 carrying an armature 71 that is disposed within the lield ol force of the electro-magnet 65. When this electro-magnet is energized, and the armature attracted, the bell crank contact 66 moves from engagement with contact 67 into engagement with a contact 72, closing a circuit which connects a large battery 73 in series with the selecting and lock out line. At each of the subscribers stations is a local battery 7 4, which, if necessary, may constitute the battery of the primary circuit. This battery is` connected by a wire 75 to the contact 51 on one side, and by the wire 76 to the wire 60 on the opposite side.

It will be seen that in the normal position of the parts, the selecting and lock out circuit is not energized and any of the receiver hooks may be raised while all of the clapper rods of the call bells are locked from movement.

Any subscriber along the line wishing to call another, say number 5 for instance, pulls down on the handled crank 41. This moves the contact arm 48 of the calling subscribers station from contact 50 to contact 51 and connects the calling subscribers local battery in series with all of the electro-magnets along the line, including the electro-magnet 65, and as the latter is wound to low resistance, its armature 71 will be attracted, moving the bell crank contact 66 into engagement with the contact 72, thus connectin the largerbattery 73 also in series with the e cetro-magnet, so that il' the local battery is not of suiiicient strength tc properly energize all of the magnets The throwing on the extra current Will accomplish the desired result and all of said electro-magliels will be energized. This results in opening the paw] bars' 22 at every station along the line, and all of the disks 19 will be turned one step, and all of the cams or pointers may be advanced to the extent of one revolution. At. the same time the cam block of station number 1 will pass under the lever 34 and raise the latter to clfect the lowering of the notched end ol lever 32, thus releasing the clapper rod of the call bell at station number 1. At the same time all of the electro-magnets 54 will be energized and the locking devices of every station will be brought into play, locking all of the receiver hooks from movement. This operation is repeated five times, until the cam block 30 at number 5 station elevates the lever 34, and through lever 32 releases the clapper rod at station number 5.

The callingsubscriber now holds the lever 41 at the completion of the lifth movement, and by operating his magneto generator, the calling current is sent along the line in the usual way, and the electro-magnets of allL of the call bells are energized, but as all of the clapper rods except that belonging to station number 5 are locked, all will remain silent eX- cept that of station number 5. After sending the signal, the crank is allowed to move to its normal position, thus disconnecting the batteries from the line, and allowing the electro-magnets of the receiver hook locks to become denergized, so that the subscriber at station number 5 may remove his receiverv from the hook, and the calling subscriber may, also, remove his receiver. This being done, the crank may be again pulled down, if desired, for the purpose of renergiz'ing all of the electro-magnets 54, so that all of the receiver hooks except those of the connected subscribers will be positively locked and eaves-dropping prevented. When this last movement occurs, the lug or shoulder 59 of the arm 45 will be thrown beyond the end of the lever 56 and will be automatically locked from return movement so that the line will be held energized and all of the receiver hooks, except those of the calling and called subscribers, will be held locked. This latter operation may be performed by either of the connected subscribers, but will usually be the duty of the called subscriber, who, in this manner notities the calling subscriber that he has removed his receiver hook, the additional closing the circuit causing the advancement of the hands or pointers of all dials to the extent of another graduation.

The armature lever 53 may be provided with a busy signal 100, which, when the arlmature is attracted to locking position, will be exposed through a display opening in the casing.

1. In party line telephone systems, a call bell arranged at each station, a locking device engaging the clapper rod of the bell, an electro-ma netically actuated means for releasing sai locking device, a normall closed denergized selecting circuit in whic all of the electro-magnets are connected, a local battery at each station, means for connecting the batteries in the selectingl circuit, an aux- IOO iliary battery, and means for automatically connecting the battery in the circuit Whenever the local battery is thrown on the line.

the bell, an electro-magnet, an armature disposed Within the iield of force of the electromagnet, a pivoted armature carrying lever, a pawl carried by said lever, a ratchet Wheel with which said pawl engages, a cam lever movable with the ratchet Wheel, a cam actu ated lever, means for connecting the same to the clapper rod locking member, and a manually operable means at each station for making and breaking the circuit.

3. In party line telephone systems, a'call bell at each station, a clapper rod locking lever, an electro magnet, an armature arranged Within the iield of force of the electromagnet, an armature carried lever, a pawl operated thereby, a ratchet wheel with which the pawl engages, a revoluble disk having a notched periphery, a cam block adjustable into any one of the notches, a cam actuated lever adjacent to the disk, means for connecting the cam lever to the locking lever, a selecting line in which all of the electro-magnets are connected, and means at each station for energizing and denergizing the line.

4. In party line telephone systems, a receiver hook at each stati-on', a receiver hook locking device, an electro-magnet for operating the same, a normally closed denergized circuit in which all ofthe electro-magnets are connected, a local battery atfeach station, a

manually operable means for connecting the ,battery in the circuit, and means under the control of each'receiver hook for retaining the line closed and energized` 5. In party line telephone systems, a receiver hook at eachstation, an electro-magnetically operated receiver hook locking device, a normally closed denergized circuit in Which all ofthe electro-magnets are connected, a local battery at each station, a switch for connecting the battery in the line, a switch operating arm having a shouldered end, a spring elevated lever movable in the path ofthe shoulder to hold the circuit closedv and energized, and a hook depending from the lever and arranged to extend under the receiver hook.

6. In a party line telephone system, a selecting line, selecting mechanism at each station, said line being normally closed and deenergized, a local battery at each of the stations, means at each station for connecting the battery in the line, a main line battery normally disconnected from the line, and an electro-magnetically actuated means connected in the line and adapted when energized by the local battery to connect the main battery in series in the line. y

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own, we have hereto allxed our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

RUBEN C. M. HASTINGS. THURSTON MATHENY. Witnesses:

JENNIE COOLEY, C. D. HOPKINS. 

